Some People

12/21

Turns out, I wouldn't be seeing her like I planned the next day.

"We're going to Philippa again. You ready?" Mum said, fiddling with her keys, the jingling noise making me wince.

I stopped walking, a frown on my face. "But..."

"Is there a problem? Do you have plans?" Mum asked.

Um, yes. Yes I do have plans, thank you very much. I have a shower, get changed, have two pieces of toast for breakfast, clean my teeth and pack my bag then head over to Eliza's.

Mum's eyes drifted to the clock on the wall, her knee jiggling.

I sighed. "No. Let's go,"

"You seem a lot happier, today," Philippa said like the all-knowing God she was.

I shrugged.

"Is there a reason for that?"

"He has a new friend," Mum cut in.

Philippa raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Is that so, Archie?"

I shrugged again, but Mum answered anyway.

"She recently moved across the street from us. He's been going over to her house every day,"

"She?" Philippa winked at me. "I see,"

I, however, did not. What did she see? What was so special about Eliza being a girl?

"Do we have a name for this girl?" Philippa asked, talking more to Mum. Finally she found out that she won't get anything out of me.

Mum sighed and shook her head, looking at me. "He won't tell me anything about her,"

Nodding. "Well, she seems to make you happy, Archie. Would you agree?"

I shrugged. But... yes. I would very well agree. Eliza helps me be happy, and that's a fact.

"Archie..." Philippa looked at Mum for the 'go-ahead' look which she gave.

Mum then looked at me and gave me that strange, supportive, Mum-smile. She put a hand on my knee.

Oh god. What was gonna happen... Did someone die?

"I'm assuming your mum hasn't told you the news,"

"News?" I couldn't help myself, but I was confused. What news?

More adult eye contact. "Do you want to tell him, Larissa?"

Mum took a deep breath and nodded.

The ride home I was numb. I didn't know what to say.

Mum didn't say anything either.

It was a silent kind of car ride.

I walked straight back out of the front door as soon as we got back, and Mum didn't stop me.

"Eliza, my dad is coming back from prison,"

She looked up. "Oh," she said quietly, shutting her book. "Is that a good or bad thing?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I want to see him again."

"But, he's your Dad, right? Do you love him?"

I rubbed my face. "I don't know..."

Eliza pursed her lips, her dark eyes studying me. Then she put a hand on top of mine. "It's okay. When is he getting released?"

"He already was," I said, only just realising it myself. Realising the severity of the situation. "That's... that was why Mum was so scared when she couldn't find me. She thought... she was scared that maybe he..." I got up from the chair, restless. "She doesn't trust him. No matter what she tells me, I know that she doesn't fucking trust him,"

Eliza pursed her lips again, but didn't say anything when I swore. "Are you okay?"

I flopped down onto her desk chair. "No," I said, my head in my hands. "I'm not. I'm not okay at all."

She was silent.

I rubbed my face again. "I'm sorry."

"Archibald, don't be sorry. It's not your fault." She moved next to me and put a gentle hand on my arm. "We can do this. Do you know when you're going to see him?"

"No."

"Do you want to see him?"

"No. Yes. I don't know," I leant back in the chair, my head resting on the top of the back. "He went to jail for a reason. He... I don't really want to talk about it. I don't want you to treat me differently... because I'm his son. That's what everybody else does. At one point during my childhood they all started looking at me funny, and suddenly I had parents pulling their children away from me in the playgrounds, I was forced into all these counselling sessions, teachers treated me differently... everybody treated me differently. Can you tell I have a hard time making friends?" I scoffed dryly.

Eliza pursed her lips. "Are you my friend?"

"I hope so," I said, somewhat taken aback at the question.

"Good... do you want some hot milo?"

"I'd love some hot milo,"

A smile slowly spread across both of our faces, and then we were laughing. Why were we laughing? I have no clue.

But, hey, it worked for me.